Villarreal struggles to score, but earns valuable 3 points
by Allen Dodson on Mar 2, 2011 10:58 PM CET
Email
PrintWhere do I begin to describe this match? Statistical domination without scoreboard domination just about sums it up.
Highlights from 101 Great Goals:
From the first minute, when Santi Cazorla shot wide, Villarreal had numerous opportunities against a game Hércules club that was clearly second-best. The visitors opted for a 4-3-3, with Portillo and Tote joining Trezeguet up top. Lining up in their usual 4-4-2, Villarreal effectively controlled the midfield, but though its possession play often was a delight to watch, the final pass too often was lacking. Nilmar, in particular, seemed to struggle to get into the game early, and though Santi, Borja, and Cani were trying to pry open the defense with clever passes, they just weren't coming off.
However, Villarreal was doing a good job of winning the ball back quickly, and it seemed only a matter of time before a goal would come. In the 19th minute, Rossi collected a pass and headed in with only Calatayud to beat, but the offside flag went up--an incorrect call, I thought. Two minutes later, Herculés had no such reprieve; Cani gathered the ball from Capdevila in midfield, slipped a pass through to Rossi, and he beat the keeper with a low shot just inside the near post.
The visitors seemed to realize that they couldn't continue to sit back and admire the Yellow Submarine's passing, but they struggled to create anything themselves, with sloppy passing in the final third. Villarreal took a direct approach, looking to put in Nilmar or Rossi free on goal with fine interplay from outside the box. The best chance of the half fell to Rossi, but Calatayud pushed away his hard shot driven into the ground. At the half, Hercules had only one shot toward Diego López, a Portillo header that was well wide, and it seemed that as long as Villarreal kept attacking, further goals surely would come.
HT: 1-0
Right from the restart, Villarreal threatened again, with Pamarot hauling down Nilmar just outside the area, and Rossi's free kick went just wide of Calatayud's far post. In the next ten minutes, the yellow club threatened time after time--a Nilmar shot was saved, and Cazorla's shot curled just wide of the far post with the keeper beaten. In the 55th minute, Hércules had its first real threat of the game, but Marchena cleared the ball from danger. Villarreal should have been up at least 3-0 by now, but they weren't. Nilmar shot over, Santi produced a fine save, Rossi shot over the top--it just went on.
Kiko Femenía came on for Hércules in an attempt to create more up front, and they certainly did enjoy more possession as the second half wore on. Tote's main contribution seemed to be straying offside, but Trezeguet was clearly the danger man. In the 70th minute, Feminía nearly got the ball to Trezeguet, but Marchena's foot tipped the pass away. Villarreal removed Cani, who played well but certainly was tired, for Wakaso. Shortly thereafter, Rossi came off for Ruben, and then Musacchio replaced Nilmar. Juan Carlos Garrido (sitting in the front row at El Madrigal and clearly pulling the strings) clearly was ready to soak up some pressure and try to get the second goal on the break.
Wakaso's speed was impressive, but his shot less so--he mishit one, put another wide, and missed a fine opportunity to hit the open Santi at the top of the box--but he did well, and the crowd took to him. With four minutes to go, Hércules earned a free kick, but Tote's effort was poor and wide of everything. Three minutes of extra time: Hércules poured forward, but Gonzalo headed away the best cross that Trezeguet had seen all game. The final whistle went, and Villarreal had a valuable three points--and let's not forget, our first victory in La Liga in five matches.
FT: 1-0
16 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
by damipher on Mar 3, 2011 12:12 AM CET reply actions
a little more detail on Wakaso: when he first came in I wasn’t sure where he was playing and I’m not sure he was either, but he ended up on the left of midfield. As in many games this season, Cani and Rossi coming out was pretty much the signal for us to play more defensively so we didn’t get caught too far up the pitch on a counterattack. Capdevila, for instance, stayed back, so when there was a run to be made down that side it was Wakaso who made it. And he made a couple of nice ones.
I liked his defensive play—he made a couple of nice tackles and closed people down, and he seemed quite comfortable in close possession. Two Hercules player took him on near the center circle and he ended up splitting them, still with the ball.
He also blew past their right back twice at least. One time if he could’ve pulled the ball back to the top of the box, he had someone (Ruben I think) wide open, but he didn’t pick him out; the next time he had beaten the defender to the byline. had Santi wide, wide open but overhit the pass. (when I saw him on midfield I was thinking, why was this guy in the Segunda?…then when he tried a long pass or shot, I understood) i can see why Garrido likes him though, and the crowd seemed to take to him also.
And not to belabor the obvious, but Bruno should be starting for Spain. He makes so many interceptions, provides so many key touch passes….there was one point when Villarreal were having trouble breaking the Hercules pressure to start an attack and Bruno turned on the ball and made a perfect cross-field pass back to Gonzalo who started the attack from that side. He’s just amazing.
10 points ahead of 5th, 1 point behind Valencia for 3rd. A good day.
by Allen on Mar 3, 2011 2:41 AM CET reply actions
Wakaso was is impressive and more playing time will improve more and hopefully get better.
by Acqua on Mar 3, 2011 3:53 AM CET up reply actions
I’m surprised that there has not been more in the media today about Wakaso. He certainly made an impact in midfield but got carried away when he saw the goalposts. He earned warm applause from the faithful.
I’ve been saying for months now that Bruno should be starting for Spain. If he wore a claret and blue shirt he would be.
by Kenez on Mar 3, 2011 6:18 PM CET up reply actions
Acqua says:
03/01/2011 at 00:18
Wanna win vs. Hercules ? then get Rossi to score atleast 1 goal
The leading goal scorer for Villarreal is Giuseppe Rossi with a 42% chance of scoring 1 or more goals. When he has at least one goal Villarreal has a 84% chance to win.
http://accuscore.com/game-forecast-previews/soccer/gameid,1255
Reply
by Acqua on Mar 3, 2011 3:49 AM CET reply actions
Caught the highlights , looked like most of the chances in the 2nd half fell to Cazorla then Nilmar.
Cazorla was a bot unforunate in 2/4 chances, but Nilmar looked off.
Suprised since he looked in good shape vs Racing
by Acqua on Mar 3, 2011 3:51 AM CET reply actions
Bruno #1 Ball Winner w/289
http://www.ligabbva.com/co02/
by Acqua on Mar 3, 2011 3:56 AM CET reply actions
rumors today that Chelsea are looking at Santi Cazorla
Napoli might be interested in Borja . By the way, the news snippet quotes his agent as saying he has a “three-year contract at Villarreal”
and congratulations to Giuseppe Rossi—the goal he scored yesterday gave him 13 for the season, his personal best in La Liga. As Acqua pointed out, when he scores we generally win, so keep doin’ it Giuseppe!
by Allen on Mar 3, 2011 1:40 PM CET reply actions
yes da napoli media were gaga over borja , so not suprised he is being considered
one thing about borja still is. he can genius 1 week & mia da next week or 2
by jackson on Mar 3, 2011 6:00 PM CET up reply actions
To finish in the Champions League positions it takes on average 65 points and at least 68 to achieve 3rd position. Villarreal now have 50 points with 12 game left, of which only five are at home. With Barca and Real Madrid still to visit El Madrigal they really need to win the other three and then find three wins on the road from the following places, Atlético, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Sevilla, Mallorca, Almeria and Osasuna. The points sacrificed in February in what looked the easy part of the run in have left little margin for further mishaps.
From another point of view Athletic and Sevilla would need to win something like 27 points from 12 games, a tough ask when Sevilla has to play all six teams above them. Athletic have the easier task but still have to play Sevilla, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Espanyol. A win at Atlético Madrid on Saturday I feel would put them out of contention.
by Kenez on Mar 3, 2011 6:10 PM CET reply actions
I agree with you that the three home wins are key, but I think qualifying in the 4th place won’t take more than 61 points, given how the top two are doing and how the teams below us have been playing. ( The only team in the 5-8 place group to make up points on us during in the last five games was Sevilla).
I think if we defeat Sporting, Zaragoza and Getafe at home, draw with two of Valencia, Athletic, Atletico and Sevilla on the road, that’s 61 points right there with four games remaining, and that is likely to be enough. (though I’d like to post at least one win in here!)
Based on current form, I’m not sure I see Sevilla or Athletic getting 24 points from 36, Espanyol 22 of 36, or Atletico 27 of 36 to get to 62 by the end of the year. Sevilla strikes me as the best of those teams, or maybe I should say the one that has the potential to get hot in the last part of the season, but they also have the hardest schedule.
by Allen on Mar 3, 2011 7:35 PM CET up reply actions
Since La liga reduced to 20 clubs in 1997/98 the lowest number of points to achieve 4th place was 61 by Celta in 2002/03 and Betis was 4th with 62 in 2004/05. Four times clubs have finished 4th with 63, including Sevilla last season.Sevilla also recorded the highest number of points for a team finishing 5th that was 68 in 2005/06.
With Barcelona and Real Madrid racking up the points it could well be a low number this season.
I agree that Sevilla, with Manzano in charge, are the team that has the most potential but a difficult run in. What Villarreal must do is avoid defeat against Athletic and Sevilla
by Kenez on Mar 3, 2011 8:34 PM CET up reply actions
Almeria 1 – 1 Racing Santander
Real Madrid 6 – 0 Malaga
just shows u how bad vcf did in feb, 11
by jackson on Mar 3, 2011 11:26 PM CET reply actions
well, if Malaga had gifted goals like that we would have won, but it’s true we have to develop the mentality to put teams away. “The real problem was the failure to translate obvious superiority into goals” is what I wrote in the Malaga recap, and it applied yesterday as well.
In my opinion that’s a major difference between Barca, Madrid, and everyone else.
by Allen on Mar 4, 2011 12:11 AM CET reply actions
With 12 games left , looks like Malaga is headed to segunda.
by Acqua on Mar 4, 2011 6:33 AM CET reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Villarreal USA
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Twitter & Facebook
